Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-10-15


ing Boer good day
AWhat are you doing here2" asked the
Dutchman; whereon jess explained that they
had pass-which John promptly produced
and were proceeding to Moofontel.
"Ah, Om CroftsP said tho Boer as he took
the pass; "you are likely to meet burying
party there" and at the time Jess did not
understand what he meant. He eyed the pass
suspiciously all over, and then asked how it
came to be stained with water
Jess not daring to tell the truth said that
it had been dropped into puddle The Boer
was about to return it, when suddenly his eye
fell upon Jess saddle.
"How is it that the girl is riding on a mans
I saddle!" he asked. "Why, know that sad
/ dle; let me look at the other side Yes, there
is bullet hole through the flap That Is
Swart Dirk's saddle. How did you get itg"
II bought it from him." answered jess,
without moments hesitation. II could get
nothing to ride on"
The Boer shook his head @There are
plenty of saddles in Pretoria" he said "and
these are not the days when man sells his
saddle to an English girl. ALI and that other
is Boer saddle, too. No Englishman has
saddle cloth like that. This pass is not suf-
ficient," he went on, in cold tone; ''it should
have been countersigned by the local COM
mandant. l must arrest YOU"
jess began to make further excuses, but he
merely repeated, 81 must arrest you," and
gave some orders to tue men with him.
1--WE are in for it again." she said to John !;
"and there is nothing for it but togo"
II shant mind so much if only they win
give us some grub" said John, philosophi-
cally. IL am half starved"
I>oJf III
little laugh. II wish they would shoot us and
have done with it.
"Come, cheer up, Jess" he answered; "per
haps the luck is going to change"
She shook her head with the air of one who
expects the worst, and then some gay young
spirits among the Beers came up and made
things pleasant by an exhibition of their pol
Ished wit, which they chiefly exercised at the
expense OF poor jess, whose appearance was
as may well be imagined, exceedingly
wratched and forlorn; so much SO that Il
would have moved the pity of most people
But these specimens of the golden youth of {
simple pastoral folk found in it rich min,
of opportunities. They asked her il sh,
would not like to ride straddle legged, and il
she had bought her dress from an old Hotten
| tot who had done with it, and if she had beer
rolling about tipsy in the veldt to get all thu
mud on it; and generally availed themselve
! of this unparalleled occasion to be witty a
the expense of an English lady III sore dis
tress. Indeed, one gay young dog, called ia
cobus, was proceeding from jokes linguistic
to jokes practical. Perceiving tina
| Jess only kept her seat on tn
mans saddle by the exercise of Gu
rious faculty of balance, it occurred to hin
that it would be fine thing to upset it ant
make her fall upon her face Accordingly
with a sudden twist Of the rein he brough
his horse sharply against her wearied animal
nearly throwing it down: but she was tot
! quick for him, and saved herself by catching
at the name. jess said nothing; indeed, sh'
made no answer to her tormentors, and fortu
nately John understood very little of wha
they were saying. Presently, however, thu
young Boer made another attempt, putting
out his hand to give her sly push; and, as il
happened, John saw it, and the sight of tn,
indignity made the blood boil in his veins
Before he could reflect ON what he was doing
he was alongside of the man, and, catching
him by the throat, had hurled him backward
over his crupper with all the force he coulC
! command. The man fell heavily upon hi
shoulders, and instantly there was a grea
other Beers raised their rifles, and Jes
thought that there was an end of it, and put
her hand before her face, having first thanked
John for avenging the insult with a swift
flash of her beautiful eyes And, indeed, ir
snother second it would have been all ovel
! had not the elder man who had taken the pas.
interposed; the fact being that he had wit
messed the proceedings that led to his follow
er's discontinue, and, being decent man al
bottom, had disapproved of them.
leave them alone and put down those
! guns" he shouted at served Jacobus right
he was trying to push the girl from the horse
Almighty! it is not wonderful those English
call us brute beasts when you boys do sucl
things Put down your guns, say, and one
of you help Jacobus up. He looks as sick a:
buck with bullet through it."
Accordingly the row passed over, and the
playful Jacobus-whom jess noted with sat
isfaction was exceedingly sick and trembling
in every limb-was with difficulty hoisted Oh
to his horse, and proceeded on his journey
with not single bit of fun left in him.
! A little while after this jess pointed ont 9
! long, low hill that lay upon the fiat belt, q
dozen miles or SO away, like a stone on 8
stretch of sand.
Look" she said; there is Mooifontein al
last!"
awe are not there yet," remarked John
sadly
Another weary half hour passed, and thei
they suddenly, ON passing over crest, say
Hans Coetzee's homestead lying down by tn
water in the hollow. So that was wher
they were being taken to.
Within a hundred yards of the house tn
Beers halted and consulted, except Jacobus
who went on, still looking very green. FINAL,
the elder man came to them and addresset
jess, at the same time handing her back tn
pass. "Yon can go on home, 4" he said. 9TH
Englishman must stay with us till we find ou
more about him."
He says that can go. What shall dos
asked jess, II don't like leaving you wit
these men,"
"Do' why go, of course. can look afte
myself; and if l can't, certainly you won't
able to help me. Perhaps you will be able t.
get some help at the farm AT any rate, yo,
must CO."
Now, Englishman," said the Boer.
Toe IDI, III :